Barkley is a fat, drunk, big-mouth and what Yao said is exactly right. The man's basketball "analysis" is a joke. He provides comedic value (and he's very funny, I might add), and nothing more. Is the rest of the league going to want to dunk on Ming more now because of what he said about Barkley? Yeah right, they'll probably say "good one, man".
Mad Max that loud mouth Hall of Famer go more than he deserved. He should be fired just based on his rudeness and disrespect.
WOOOOOOOOOOO! I remember listening to NBA 2 Night's draft night special and one criticism of Ming was he may lack the personality to dominate a game. Well I think that's just about irrelevant now. Man this guy has PASSION. And as for sending the duplicate of the NBA trophy to Charles...... classic. Respect to Charles of course because he was one of my favorite Rockets of all time but I couldn't help but getting even more excited about Yao and his take no bs attitude.
MadMax, Thank you for giving me an opportunity to disagree with you. You're right, Yao Ming hasn't played any NBA game yet. However, he did play against 6 of this year's NBA draftees in the World University Games last year, and won--including the game winning block against USA's No. 13, Lonny Baxter. The 6 players on Team USA that were drafted on Wednesday's night were: Melvin Ely, Lonndy Baxter, Juan Dixon, Roger Mason, Chris Owens, Dan Dickau. For those who said that Yao Ming is NOT a shot blocker, Yao had 5 blocks in that game. Team USA together had 4. So, what do you think, Mad? Yao does have a right to say something, right?
Fwang posted this translation in another thread. I like the part about patting Charles's budha belly. LOL
I like that Yao clearly: 1. Has passion for the game. 2. Knows recent NBA history even though he's lived in China. 3. Is funny. 4. See Number One above. (Assuming, that is, that he is the author of his diary and not a ghost-writing PR specialist. Do you really think he wrote that press release from the Chicago workout?) I truly believe that he's just trying to be funny and not trash talk. However, I'm not sure if he understands how his comments will be twisted around in the US and used to motivate people who will already be predisposed to hate him simply becuase he's so freaking big (giants are never universally loved). You think someone's not going to show Tyson Chandler the "cake" quote? You think Jay Williams isn't going to step up against the Rockets to prove he should've been taken Number One? He'll find out the hard way, I guess. Or maybe he knows exactly what he's doing and just thinks he can handle whatever is thrown at him ...
I think the translation was really bad. Yao actually mentioned about after winning the championship to rub Barkley's belly to comfort him. Since he didn't win a title here in Houston. Alot gets lost in translation, but he definitly wasn't bein cocky.
I think that Charles will get more enjoyment out of this than anybody. When he played with Manute, they constantly talked trash to eachother. But they were also probably the closest friends on the team. One thing about Charles is, he doesn't give a damn. He loves everyone, but he sure as hell will talk **** to anyone. The important thing to remember is that Charles always takes as well as he idshes it out. I bet that Charles will be joking with Yao at the first TNT Rockets broadcast.
The Big difference is that O'neal, Jordan, Pierce etc may talk smack now but i hardly remember them having a go at a hall of famer before they had even played a single NBA game.
Of course he should. Rookie hazing is what puts young guys' egos in check. It seems like Yao already knows that he's gonna be carrying bags. You guys remember how steve had to run out and by donuts for chuck all of the time? I wonder what steve will make the new guys do?
MadMax, what is the most common friendly jab people make at Charles Barkley. It is become part of TV jokes by everyone. Yao is jabbing back in an accepted and rather overdone manner at a retired player turned TV PERSONALITY, who is well knows for smiling at that joke!! Everyone laughs when someone pulls the "no title" thing on Charles, and Yao surely knows he'll get his silly laugh in China. Big deal. Charles jabs and seeks out responses. That's what he does. That's what he likes. And Yao did bow down to him by saying he didn't stay long enough to let him carry Charles's bags. That was funny. Yao was very respectful to Shaq, yesterday. relax
Rubbing Barkley's belly to comfort him after Yao wins the championship is even cockier than what the original translation was saying. Sending a copy of the trophy is cocky; rubbing the man's belly is just condescending and mean. Btw, I love it.
The only basketball players i hear taking jabs at Barkleys lack of a championship are guys he's pretty close with and mainly guys who've actually won them. Payton, Stackhouse etc have all been on Inside the NBA and refrained from knocking Chuck even though Kenny goes at him continuously. I don't think Ming was being disrespectful i think he was just trying to make a joke but the way it came out sounded rather bad.
The only reason no one like Stackhouse says that on TV is because they are afraid of Barkley getting the last laugh at their expense, since they have done nothing either. That is not about respect for Barkley's career, it is about fear of Barkley's wit nailing you on national television. We have a different view of talking smack with Charles Barkley. Charles is different that anyone else because he's a TV Personality. This is nowhere close to true disrespect Charles attributes to Steve Francis when he was a rookie, for instance. Yao said he'd rub Charles belly and "He did not get a rookie like me to carry bags for him." Yao has not said any smack about the league or any player. Charles is different; he wants it and seeks it out, like what Stern said to him, so he gets a chance to jab back. Like I say, we have a completely different view of smack. Smack is part of the culture of basketball and is accepted. Personally, I'm thrilled that Yao is showing he can handle it in a playful manner, versus what Iverson did when Barkley said "Me Myself and Iverson." JohnnyBlaze, put this in perspective with how other #1 picks might of done. <b>Barkley very much dissed Yao and said he is a bad pick. Yao responded with honor and wit.</b>
I'm sorry I got in so late on his thread but definitely hilarious stuff. Yao is my man. Barkley did dis him big time and Yao made light of it with some funny stuff and a definite character. Yao has heart and he never ceases to amaze me. Stevie should read this. I think he would love Yao's quotes considering how bad Barkley dissed him and Mobley. And Francis didn't respond with anywhere near the flair of Ming. Got to love this guy. Where is Troybarros when he might actually be useful and feed this stuff to his homey.
I hate Trash Talking during the Game. It detracts from the purity of the game and is often unsportsman like. It often shows up the lame character of the talker and shows a lack of the fundamentals of decent sportsmanship! I would like to know what is TALKING SMACK?
Larry Bird was well known for saying things on the court. Garnett is a big talker. Magic. Jordan. Garnett and Magic would kiss and laugh before and after the game with their opponents. What is this bad sportmanship you are talking about. Many famous catcher's in baseball would talk **** to batters. Mohammed Ali is regarded as one of best sporstmen of all time, and he was the King of Smack. He was a King, much like rappers are. Hell, he was a rapper. You just don't understand the culture of talking while playing games. I encounter guys like you all the time when playing Bridge or Spades..."quit talking" "you're not supposed to talk" No one ever says that at a friendly Poker game, though, you'd get kick out of the game. No one ever says that at Dominos. You don't understand that your perspective of "trash talking detracting from the purity of the game" is just that--your perspective. trash talking is fun and very much part of many games, and when you encounter someone who doesn't like it, it can work to an actual advantage as they stop thinking about the game and think about your words instead.